The additional federal money would have expanded the planned $64.6 million, 2.1-mile downtown streetcar system that the city plans to begin building next year.

The grant application included plans for a new, $19 million leg running on North Fourth Street between West Wisconsin and West St. Paul avenues between the Milwaukee Intermodal Station and the Wisconsin Center. It also would let the city buy additional streetcar vehicles, a better maintenance building for them or better amenities at passenger stops.

The Business Journal is also reporting that former streetcar backer Michael Cudahy is against the plan, and that was before the news of the rejected grant application. He told the Business Journal, ““Nobody will ride it because it doesn’t go anywhere.” He also objected to the cost of moving utility infrastructure on Broadway.